Ever notice that I always say the same thing?? But it's just because I appreciate you all so much! Thanks for your kind reviews! :)

Chapter 9

It was a long three days for Remus. The longer he seemed to wait to go to Ariana, the more awkward it was going to be, that much he knew. But he couldn't seem to get up the nerve to apologize.

On the fourth day he had managed to convince himself to go to The Leaky Cauldron and was actually on the way out of his classroom when he saw her walking from Dumbledore's office. What is she doing here, he wondered briefly.

"Ariana!" He called.

She turned at her name but when she saw who it was she took off running, her long hair flying behind her.

Remus sprinted after her but she had such a head start he knew he wouldn't catch her. He stopped and pulled his wand from his robes, dimly realizing how dark and cloudy it was.

"Immobulus!" He cried.

He watched her turn with cat-like reflexes and pull her own wand on him with the Defensive Charm.

"Definsium." She shoot back looking gleefully happy in spite of the circumstances and began running toward the front gate again.

Remus followed her and the moment he burst through the gate he Apparated so he was blocking her path. Her eyes widened with shock as she tried to come to a stop but she was going too fast and her momentum caused her to knock him over.

The wind was knocked out of him as they toppled to the ground but he thought quickly and rolled over so she was underneath him and unable to escape.

"Let me up." She demanded.

"No. Not until you listen to me." He said.

"You sold me out to Dumbledore." She said in plainly hurt tone.

"I didn't know what to do. You're so secretive. I couldn't tell if you were friend or foe." He argued.

"So why did you take me out to dinner then? To keep an eye on me?"

Remus looked into her hurt eyes, watched her bite her lip and did the only thing he could. He captured her lips in a soul stealing kiss.

She made a surprised sound in the back of her throat and he used the opportunity to deepen the kiss. His tongue seeking and finding hers as his hands sank into her hair.

Ariana sighed contently as his warm weight pushed her into the forest floor. His fingers massaging her scalp causing her whole body to tingle. Until reason sat in, of course.

"Get off me." She said as she broke away and tried to push him off.

"Do you see that? That's why I asked you out dammit. Because you make me feel like.....you make feel. Period." He said rolling off of her as thunder struck and rain began falling.

Ariana sat up dazedly, staring at him as if gauging if he was telling the truth or not.

"Honest." He said, pulling her down for another kiss as it began raining harder, soaking their clothes.

"Why are you so secretive?" He asked when he finally pulled away for a breath.

"Like you've told me everything?" She disputed.

"More that you've told me." He said. Except for that one major point I hadn't thought of until now.

He watched as she tried to think of a reply, her dark curly hair now plastered to her face. Merlin, how can one person be so sexy, he wondered.

He found himself pulling her toward him again. Crushing his lips desperately against hers. His hands caressing the soft skin of her arms until she wound them tightly around his neck, pressing closer to him. He could feel her heated skin through the wet clothes separating them.

He moved his lips down her jaw to nibble on her neck and lave away the stray raindrops, listening as she sighed and whispered his name as she titled her head back to give him better access.

Then it was he who moved away.

"Are you denying you feel that? That heat between us?" He whispered hotly.

"No. I don't deny it." She practically moaned in his ear.

"I apologize profusely for turning you in." He said, watching in fascination as the raindrops cascaded down her skin.

"Apology accepted." She conceded.

"Good. Now lets go somewhere and get dried off. Hogwarts is probably closest." He said as he helped her to her feet.

This time it was Remus' turn to be surprised as Ariana captured his lips in a tender kiss. It was all too brief in his mind but it was effective nonetheless.

"Truthfully? You are one of the best things that's ever happened to me." She said genuinely, in a moment of honesty.

"Funny. I was just thinking the same thing about you." He smiled back he led her back towards the gates of Hogwarts.